A Star Is Dead
Episode Summary
A Star Is Dead is the third episode of Season 1 of _Quincy, M.E._. It was originally broadcast on **November 28, 1976** on NBC’s Sunday Mystery Movie. The episode centers on the suspicious overdose of a high-profile Hollywood actress and Quincy’s struggle when evidence points to his friend in politics.
Synopsis
Famed movie star **Roberta Rhodes** (guest star Donna Mills) is discovered dead in her bedroom from an apparent overdose. While police are quick to close the case as suicide, Quincy grows skeptical when inconsistencies surface:
- Toxicology doesn’t align with her known prescription history.
- A tabloid editor informs Quincy that **Congressman Charles Sinclair** (Robert Foxworth)—an old friend—is implicated in her last-known whereabouts :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
- Journalist **Paul Reardon** (William Daniels) claims he has proof Sinclair was with Roberta the night she died :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
- Roberta’s mother, Clara Rhodes, insists her daughter was murdered—claiming she witnessed Sinclair forcing barbiturates into her :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
Despite political pressure and personal loyalty, Quincy pushes forward. Through forensic evidence and emotional inquest testimony, he exposes a tangled web of lies, tabloid influence, and unreliable witnesses, ultimately clarifying that Roberta’s death was a tragic overdose—but not the conspiracy some suspected :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
Cast
- **Dr. R. Quincy, M.E.** – Jack Klugman
- **Sam Fujiyama** – Robert Ito
- **Lt. Frank Monahan** – Garry Walberg
- **Danny Tovo** – Val Bisoglio
- **Dr. Robert Astin** – John S. Ragin
- **Roberta Rhodes** (guest star) – Donna Mills :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- **Paul Reardon** (guest star) – William Daniels :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- **Congressman Charles Sinclair** (guest star) – Robert Foxworth :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- **Clara Rhodes** – Roberta’s mother :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Themes
- Tension between political influence and forensic truth
- The human cost of fame and media sensationalism
- Loyalty vs. professional integrity in investigating close associates
Notable Facts
- This is one of the earliest episodes to feature Quincy confronting a high-level political figure and resisting institutional pressure :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
- The plot echoes real-world high-profile celebrity overdoses and the role of tabloids during the 1970s :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
Reception
Contemporary viewers praised Jack Klugman’s performance, with episode reviews noting the “Quincy gets on his soapbox” moment when he pushes back against both media hype and political influence :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
Quotes
- “Just because she was famous doesn’t mean she wasn’t murdered.” – Quincy :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- During the inquest: “We have eyewitnesses and evidence. We owe it to her to find the truth.” – Quincy